Washington junior hits deciding free throws in OT

WASHINGTON — A pair of Jess Learned free throws in overtime helped Washington escape Notre Dame 42-40 on Thursday night at the Team Works Invitational in Torry Gymnasium.

With 3.9 seconds to play, the Washington junior was fouled after attempting a shot in the lane off a dish from Maddie Lee.

Learned, who had put the Panthers ahead by two earlier in OT, stepped to the foul line, where she was already 3-for-3. She finished with a game-high 19 points on 7 of 12 shooting.

"I was shaking," she said of the key free throws. "A free throw is a free throw. I do it in practice all the time. I can do it in my sleep.

"I could just picture myself putting it in and I did."

A running 3-pointer by Notre Dame's Bridget Bill hit off the backboard as time expired. That miss sealed the win for Class 3A No. 6-ranked Washington (13-1), which now has two overtime and four single-digit victories this season.

This came despite the Panthers shooting 35.4 percent (17-for-48) from the field, 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from 3-point land and turning the ball over 18 times.

Washington coach Maggie Mose said she thought her team played well. She gave credit to Notre Dame (6-13), which had 11 steals.

"I thought (ND) played extremely well," Mose said. "Obviously, very proud of the girls for the way we fought through in overtime and pulled out the win, but it was not pretty."

Katie Bill tied the game at 40 with a rebound putback with 38 seconds remaining in overtime. That was lone made field goal — the Irish went 1 of 6 and Washington had no attempts — in the extra period. The Panthers committed four OT turnovers.

With 19 seconds left in regulation, Hayley Reneau appeared to put Washington ahead for good. She picked off an errant ND pass, made a layup and was fouled. However, the Irish foul was called on the floor, negating the basket.

Out of a timeout, Washington's best look was a blocked attempt from Lee as the buzzer sounded.

"We switched the picks we needed to switch," Notre Dame coach Ron Carrothers said. "We communicated as well as we've done all year and kept everybody guarded.

"I told them, 'We want you up to where we don't want them breathing or if they are, it's your deodorant they're smelling.'"